The Swedish company Hectronic announced a Qseven COM (computer on module) and a carrier board to go with it. The H6049 module and H4103 carrier provide an Intel Atom Z5xx processor, up to 1GB of RAM, a SSD (solid state disk), four PCI Express x1 slots, and a Linux BSP (board support package), says Hectronic.

Little bigger than a credit card, Hectronic's H6049 module uses the 2.75 x 2.75 inch Qseven format (for more on the Qseven format, see later in this story). The module employs Intel's 1.6GHz Atom Z530 or 1.1GHz Z510, along with the expected SCH US15W northbridge/southbridge chip. According to Hectronic, the device also offers 256MB, 512MB, or 1GB of soldered-on RAM, plus an SSD (solid state disk) employing from 1GB to 8GB of "industrial grade" NAND flash memory, Hectronic adds.

Hectronic's H6049 module

Interfaces on the module (above), all of which reach the outside world via the Qseven/MXM connector, include LDVS or SDVO graphics, eight USB 2.0 ports, PCI Express, HD audio, LPC, I2C, SMBus, and an SDIO port. Gigabit Ethernet is additionally present, courtesy of an Intel 82574 chip, according to Hectronic.

The relatively huge H4103 carrier board measures 11.96 x 6.81 inches (304 x 173mm), and is designed for rapid prototyping or low-volume production, says Hectronic. The board is supplied with a complete set of design files, along with BSPs for both Linux and Windows XP Embedded, the company says.

Hectronic's H4103 carrier board

As pictured above, the H4103 has a slot for the H6049, plus a Mini PCI Express slot, an ExpressCard slot, and an MMC/SD slot. The board also has four PCI Express x1 slots, Hectronic adds.

Visible on the carrier board's left are four alphanumeric LED indicators which are designed to aid in debugging, according to Hectronic. External displays may be interfaced via an LVDS header, or via an ADD2 slot that accepts VGA, DVI, or HDMI adapters, the company says.

Hectronic says the H4103 has six USB 2.0 ports with standard connectors, plus two additional USB ports that are available at the Mini PCI Express and ExpressCard sockets, respectively. Meanwhile, there are four serial ports, two with 9-pin connectors and two with headers, the company adds.

The H4103 is also said to include a RJ45 connector for gigabit Ethernet and an S/PDIF optical digital output. Meanwhile, a total of six different 3.5mm jacks for analog audio provides mic in, line in, and 7:1 surround output, according to Hectronic.

Features and specifications listed by Hectronic for its H6049/H4103 combo include the following:

• Processor — Intel Atom Z530 clocked at 1.6GHz, or Z510 clocked at 1.1GHz
• Memory — 256MB, 512MB, or 1GB of soldered-on DDR2 RAM
• Storage — SSD with from 1GB to 8GB of flash
• Expansion:
  • 4 PCI Express x1 slots
  • MMC/SD slot
  • ExpressCard slot
  • Mini PCI Express slot
  • ADD2 slot
• Networking — Gigabit Ethernet with RJ45 connector
• Other I/O:
  • 8 x USB 2.0 (6 connectors, plus USB available at Mini PCI Express or ExpressCard sockets)
  • LVDS interface via header
  • VGA, SDVO, DVI, or HDMI video output (requires optional ADD2 adapter)
  • 4 x serial (2 with 9-pin connectors; 2 via headers)
  • 2 x SATA
  • Analog audio jacks: front out, mic in, line in, surround out, side surround out, center/LFE
  • S/PDIF
• Operating temperature — 32 to 140 deg. F (0 to 60 deg. C)
• Power — ATX power connector or optional 5VDC input
• Dimensions:
  • Module — 2.75 x 2.75 inches (70 x 70mm)
  • Baseboard — 11.96 x 6.81 inches (305 x 173mm)

Qseven

Qseven is a COM standard released in January 2008 by a 14-member consortium, led by Congatec, MSC Vertriebs, and Seco. Promoted as ideal for mobile devices, the 70 x 70mm format includes "fast serial differential interfaces," including PCI Express and Serial ATA, while skipping support for legacy interfaces like EIDE and PCI. It also supports SDIO, plus modern graphics and digital media specs such as DisplayPort and HDMI.

The Qseven form-factor includes a "golden finger" connector originally designed for laptop graphics cards using Nvidia's MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) format. The connector, re-purposed here as a CPU module interconnect, provides 230 positions, .020-inch pitch, and 5.5mm and 7.8mm height options.

Availability

According to Hectronic, the H6049/H4103 combination is available now. Pricing is approximately 700 Euros (about $1,045) for the Z510 version with 512MB RAM and a 1GB SSD, and 800 Euros (about $1,195) for the Z530 version with 1GB RAM and 2GB SSD. On its own, the Z510 version of the H6049 costs approximately 170 Euros (about $253), the company adds.

More information on the H6049 and H4103 may be found on the Hectronic website, here and here.

This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.